Source

Applicability

Facilities owned or leased by the
university

Policy

The gross area of the building, the assignable area by room, and the nonassignable areas in the facility must be calculated in accordance with the appropriate building data definitions and basis of measurement. Assignable area totals must be provided for the room use categories specified in the building program. These area calculations must be provided at the following stages of project development.

Reviews of schematic drawings: calculations for assignable area.

Reviews of working drawings: calculations for assignable area, nonassignable area, and gross area.

Final Calculation: This stage is performed by University Facilities Records Management (UFRM), University Services, Arizona State University. These numbers are then populated to the data warehouse system for university community use.

Definitions

Assignable Area or Net Assignable Area (NASF)

Floor area in any facility, except separate
parking structures, that:

can be used by the building occupants to carry out their
function

is covered by a ceiling 6' 6" or higher

is enclosed on all sides by walls, partitions, doors, or a
functional equivalent

is measured between the principal interior surfaces of the
enclosing fixed walls, partitions, or doors at or near floor level
(movable room dividers normally ignored)

is expressed in square feet to the nearest whole number

and

is exclusive of:

columns or similar structural obstructions

built-in or free-standing furniture and equivalent

and

alcoves and similarly recessed areas.

Facility

A structure enclosed by walls on all sides, used for the
permanent or temporary shelter of persons, animals, plants, or
equipment, and;

is attached to the foundation;

is roofed;

is serviced by a utility, exclusive of lighting;

and

is a source of significant maintenance and repair
activities.

Gross Area

The sum of the floor areas of the building included within the
outside face of the exterior walls for all stories or areas that
have floor surfaces. The following guidelines for measurement must
be followed:

Gross area is computed by measuring within the outside face of
exterior walls, including pilasters and other projections beyond
the face of the wall. Every floor-level gross area is computed and
included in the total.

Mezzanines, stacks, interior balconies, etc., are included in
the total, but only for the floor area they represent.

Penthouses of headroom height (6' 6" or higher) are
included.

Stairs, elevator, utility, core, and similar shafts are treated
as floor area at each level.

A room extending through more than one story is counted only
once at the level of the room’s floor.

Exterior covered areas attached or related to the building are
counted at full value. These areas are defined as exterior stairs, exterior corridors, exterior balconies, or exterior docks.

janitor closets and other specialized custodial facilities,
including storage facilities that are used only for building
maintenance

heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, and other
such utility rooms or spaces required for building operation

pipe shafts and duct chases

and

public toilets.

Nonassignable area is measured between the principal interior
surfaces of the enclosing fixed walls, partitions, or doors at or
near floor level (movable room dividers and toilet stalls normally
ignored) and is expressed in square feet to the nearest whole
number.

Actual dimensions should be used to calculate gross, assignable,
and nonassignable areas.

Open-Air Stadium/Venue

Gross area is computed by measuring within the outside face of
exterior walls, including pilasters and other projections beyond
the face of the wall. Every floor-level gross area is computed and
included in the total.

Assignable space within the level is calculated and entered per
the assignable area definition above.

Open-air seating is calculated at full value.

No facility efficiency values are calculated per these
structures.

Parking Structures

Gross area is computed by measuring within the outside face of
exterior walls, including pilasters and other projections beyond
the face of the wall. Every floor-level gross area is computed and
included in the total.

The upper deck is calculated at full value.

Assignable space within the level is calculated and entered per
the assignable area definition above.